Similan Trip # 1 & # 2
Written by Andy Signer 
The Similan Islands consist of nine small islands and its name derives from the Malay word from Sembilan, which means as many as nine. After our relaxing day we were at six clock in the morning picked up by a taxi and transported to the Flying Carpet. After a short ride to Koh Chang, we set course for the world famous Richelieu Rock. Rightly be counted this sunken rock in the middle of the sea, the most beautiful dive sites on earth. The first dive was then quite full - five or six other boats filled with divers. Nevertheless, the dive was very nice and we got a further time in the enjoyment of ghost pipe fish. A large swarm of barracuda drew circles and huge schools of small fish hiding in the shelter of the rock. This place a hundred times I could dive. The second dive we were alone. Thereafter we plied further to the south. As it should be quite beautiful.
New day, new place, new luck. We dived Koh Tachai - yet we were not in the Similan National Park. Nevertheless, it was wonderful, we saw the first manta ray in this trip. Majestic floated the large animals up to 5m over and over to us. Curious they approached, eyeing us and made an elegant bow around us. In Koh Bon, the Manta show was even more impressive. Since we had around us for almost the entire dive. That evening we were even partially, a witness solar eclipse. As if the diving would have been not good enough.
The next day we were finally in the Similan Islands. I was not particularly impressed. Ok, the rock formations are impressive, but otherwise I can see the surrounding area seemed bare and empty. My highlight was clearly the leopard shark , which in City of Boulder to let close to film.
Once arrived in the far south of the Similan Islands, it was time to turn back. We dove the most beautiful dive sites again in the reverse order. Once again we were very lucky with the Mantas in Koh Bon. And at Richelieu Rock me the recording is managed by an octopus that swims into a dragon head. The dragon head is not pleased and suddenly takes flight, which in turn launched the octopus white with fright. But enough words - you can see it in themselves.
The Liveaboard just flew by and we still had time, we hung on another trip with Aladdin. Of course, there was again a day off in between. This time we spent our free day in Koh Chang lek. A comfortable, relaxed, German island in the Andaman Sea.
Mantamässig it was on the next trip even better. I do not remember exactly, but someone said that we have encountered in 80% of the dives. Genial!
February 20th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
hello you two,
We hope you had a great time in laos. we would like to again thank the many wonderful memories for andi on our usb stick :-)
dear greetings from xi mountain, who survived koh Tachai ;-)